Arsenal are down, but definitely not out.

After a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, Mikel Arteta’s side now face the daunting task of turning things around in Paris. 

But there’s a reason for optimism: Thomas Partey is back. The Ghanaian midfielder missed the first leg due to suspension, and while that absence may have flown under the radar for some, anyone who watched the game closely could tell Arsenal weren’t the same without him. 

Now that he’s back in the squad, Partey could be the key to flipping this tie on its head. These are some of the reasons he could be a game changer.

Rice goes up, Arsenal goes forward

In Partey’s absence, Declan Rice was forced to drop into a deeper midfield role, a position he can handle but one that limits his impact. 

Rice has been one of Arsenal’s most dynamic players in this season’s Champions League run, not just for his defensive work but also for his driving runs and goals.

Partey’s return means Rice can push higher up the pitch where he’s most dangerous. This tactical switch not only gives Arsenal more attacking intent but also puts pressure on PSG’s backline when building from the back. Against a team that likes to play out under pressure, Rice’s high pressing could be crucial.

Merino back where he belongs

Another ripple effect of Partey’s absence was the reshuffling of Arsenal’s front line. Mikel Merino, who has grown into a surprisingly effective forward option since February, had to drop deeper into midfield last week. 

Without him up front, Arsenal struggled to offer a direct route when PSG pressed them hard.

With Partey returning to stabilize the midfield, Merino can move back up top, offering a physical presence and focal point that was sorely missed. Against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, Merino was involved in every goal Arsenal scored from open play. If Arteta wants to go long or bypass PSG’s press, Merino is the outlet Arsenal need.

Midfield muscle and defensive shielding

Let’s not forget the most obvious reason Partey matters: his defensive intelligence and positional sense.

PSG’s winning goal in the first leg, a 26-pass move finished by Ousmane Dembélé exposed exactly where Arsenal missed him. Dembélé had too much room to run, exploiting a pocket of space Partey usually controls. 

It’s hard to imagine the same goal happening with the Ghanaian on the pitch. Partey doesn’t just break up play, he provides calm under pressure. 

His flawless passing performance against Real Madrid in the second leg showed just how much he contributes to keeping possession and managing tempo in hostile environments.

What to note

There’s no sugarcoating it, going to the Parc des Princes and winning is a tall order. But Arsenal have shown resilience throughout this European campaign, and Thomas Partey’s return could tilt the balance just enough to give them the edge.

His presence restores balance to the midfield, frees up key players like Rice and Merino to do what they do best, and offers the kind of control that’s vital in knockout football.

So can Thomas Partey help Arsenal come back against PSG? Absolutely.